CHILDREN at a Wee County primary each received an individual reply from Clackmannanshire's MP this week, after writing “impressive” letters to her about the Syrian refugee crisis.

Pupils in the P6/7 class at St Mungo's RC Primary School in Alloa had been learning about the current issue and wrote letters to Ochil and South Perthshire SNP representative Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh on how the UK should tackle the problem, which has divided opinions across the nation.

They had also been learning about formal letter and persuasive writing and have shown a depth of understanding, expressing a variety of views with well-constructed arguments.

Ms Ahmed-Sheikh was so impressed and inspired, she decided to respond individually to each pupil, addressing the points they raised and delivered her official House of Commons letters in person this Monday, January 30, morning.

She told the Advertiser: “It was lovely to receive letters from them about their views on the refugee crisis and what more we could be doing to help refugees.

“It was really interesting to see letters that showed a depth of understanding of what was happening in Syria and varied views about how we should handle that, which demonstrates they are getting a broad education about the different arguments that are out there – which I thought was really impressive.”

Teacher Fiona Boualam and her students welcomed the politician in their classroom, where they received their replies from the MP herself.

Ms Ahmed-Sheikh added: “Some young people suggested we should think about it from a religious perspective, that it's the right thing to do. Others wrote [to say] we should remember these people are starving, they have nothing – how might they feel?”

She said many felt they had a responsibility to help and some highlighted how a number of developing countries are already doing more than the UK.

Considering what the refugees do in the country, whether they are likely to take jobs for instance, was also mentioned by some, with the MP explaining: “It was more a consideration, something to bear in mind, as opposed to a negative position.

“Their views were very varied, but the overwhelming majority said we should show compassion and that we are not doing enough.”

The teacher told the Advertiser her class was delighted to welcome Ms Ahmed-Sheikh and said: “It means their hard work paid off. They'd spent a lot of time on their letters and it just means so much that it's been acknowledged.

“They are a very bright bunch and I bet they can't wait to read their letters.”

One of the MP's favourite part of the job is meeting children and young people in her constituency as they always shed new light on issues with refreshing attitudes and keep everything in perspective.

She added: “The comments they made and the way they articulated those arguments in a clearly well thought out conscious stream of thinking was highly impressive and I pay due credit to the young people, their teachers and their families.

“They are clearly paying attention at school, and at home, to what's going on in the world. The school can be rightly proud.”